'...Well it's almost zero, but not quite'

there had been a tiny amount of progress or at least that's what he felt

'Well whatever...'

Mars stood up and faced the four students that stood ready with wooden swords, compared to a month ago their temperament had clearly changed, all of them stood straight and the look in their eyes was slightly sharp like that of a drawn sword, Mars gave a nod and received a wooden sword from Gorge before he spoke

"Let's begin today's lesson"

As soon as Mars finished speaking they jumped at him like four hungry tigers, unfortunately for them Mars ate tigers for breakfast so although their attacks were well coordinated and timed Mars fended them off and made it look easy at the same time, of course had it been any other teacher he or she would have been in great trouble, still Mars wiped the floor with them for about 10 minutes as a warm up, then he spoke to them

"Tomorrow is the day of the field trip so today instead of training I'll treat you all to a meal in the city"

""""Yes Mars!""""

The four of them answered by reflex so it wasn't until a few seconds later that Kelvin spoke

"Wait... So there's no training today? Then why did we warm up?"

Mars gave a slight smile before he spoke

"Because I like to kick you guys around, now put down those wooden swords and follow after me"

The four students gave wry smiles and followed Mars into the city and to a popular restaurant where Mars had booked a table

"Now let's get some food order what you want for today, I'll pay"

The students quickly looked at the menu and ordered what they wanted and soon everyone began eating and a good mood soon spread around the table, that was until the sound of gla.s.s shattering sounded out in the restaurant and the group looked over

"I am very sorry, my hand seems to have slipped HAHAHAHA!"

"""HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"""

Mars saw a group of thugs, one of them had just thrown a gla.s.s filled with ale across the table at one of the waiters, Mars gave a sigh and spoke out to Gorge and Kelvin that was about to stand up

"Sit down"

"But Mars---"

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it..."

Mars gave a sigh and stood up from his seat and walked over to the four tugs that still were laughing in unpleasant voices and gave another sigh before he spoke to them

"I am in a good mood today, if you leave quickly I'll let you guys keep all your bones intact"

The tugs looked over at him for a few seconds until one of them asked

"Who the f.u.c.k do you think you are!? Telling us to leave, you know what if you kneel down and apologize I'll let you die with an intact copse you f.u.c.king brat!"

Mars gave yet another sigh, things went pretty much as he expected it to so he decided not to be polite and released a moderate amount of bloodl.u.s.t along with a few vermilion armour shards that formed mid air before he spoke again with narrowed eyes

"Leave and I'll let you keep all your limbs"

The tugs exchanged glances before they all got up and quickly left the restaurant Mars gave yet another sigh and tuned down his bloodl.u.s.t again as the vermilion armour shards dissolved into red particles, Mars walked back to the table under the staff's grateful gazes and sat down when Gorge asked him

"Hey Mars, what kind of skill is it that you just used?"

"It's not a skill it's pure bloodl.u.s.t, when it reached a certain level one is able to use it to form solid objects"

"I see..."

"Now don't mind that, eat and be happy"

"Sure Mars, you are paying after all!"

Mars gave a wry smile and continued his meal. After eating and chatting for a few hours the group left the restaurant behind while the group of tugs from before watched them from a near by alley

"Tell me again why we shouldn't f.u.c.k that punk up?"

"Because they are from the academy you dips.h.i.+t"

One of the tugs suddenly showed an unpleasant look before he laughed out loud

"What are you laughing about?"

"I just remembered, this years academy field trip is tomorrow right? I heard that a large group of bandits are targeting this years field trip!"

".... So you mean that that punk is dead anyway?"

"Yeah so we don't have to move a finger, he's dead either way!"

"HAHAHA f.u.c.king nice!"

Mars returned to the academy along with the group of students and after they exchanged goodbyes he returned to his room and sat down on the bed and began meditating as usual...

When the sun dawned someone knocked on Mars' door, his eyes snapped open and he jumped off the bed and opened the door and saw a sleepy looking teacher that gave a yawn before he spoke to Mars

"There's a final meeting in 30 minutes at the usual meeting room"

"Got it, I'll change my clothes and head over"

Mars closed the door and took off his clothes before he took a small basin of water and wiped himself clean before he took some fresh clothes on and left the room and headed to the meeting. Mars sat down and waited for the rest of the teachers to show up which they soon did, then the vice princ.i.p.al spoke up

"It's good that you're all here... We have received some disturbing news, it seems like a large group of bandits are targeting this year's field trip, that said it's only a rumour but I would like you all to know in advance so you are prepared"

Silence fell over the meeting room until one teacher spoke

"Can't we just cancel the trip?"

"Not at this point no, besides we do now bow down to threats and we will protect our students so they can be nurtured up to be the elite of the next generation, that is our task and we will fulfil it, besides the field trip is already underway with the first group of students and teachers have already left so we must follow"

Mars raised his hand to indicate he had something to say and the vice princ.i.p.al nodded at him before he began speaking

"Can we hire some last minute mercenaries?"

"... That's an excellent idea, I wonder why I didn't think of it... I will look into it, any other ideas?"

n.o.body said anything so the meeting ended rather quickly, Mars walked back to his room and picked up his backpack, the adamant.i.te broadsword and the bone broadsword and walked out of the room and locked the door before he began walking towards the training field, he was responsible for a group of 30 students that he would have to take the train with and meet up with the rest of the academy at the city before they all headed out into the forest where the field trip would take place. Soon he arrived at the training field and found the group of students he was responsible for and spoke up

"Gather around"

When the students gathered a few moments later he gave a nod and spoke again

"Some of you may know me, but for those who don't I am Mars and I teach swordsmans.h.i.+p... Now are there any questions before we head out?"

Mars waited but none of the 30 students spoke, Mars gave a nod and looked them over once before his eyes stopped at one student before he asked

"Where's your luggage?"

"... Oh s.h.i.+t"

Mars gave a sigh before a wry smile formed on his face

"Go get it, We won't leave you behind"

"Y-Yes!"

The student ran off amongst laughter from his fellow students, Mars put down his luggage before a student approached him and asked

"Mars you said you are a swordsmans.h.i.+p teacher right?"

Mars gave a nod

"Yeah I am"

"Do you mind if we spar as we wait for that guy to get his luggage?"

"... In fact I do mind, we can spar when we arrive at the forest, no need to tire yourself out just yet"

"... Okay that's fair I'll find you when we set up camp"

"Sure"

Mars and the students waited for the one student to return with his luggage, while he did ask if anyone else had forgoten anything but after a few secounds of silence it didn't seem like anyone else had forgoten anything, soon the student that had forgot his bag returned with a slightly red face, this time he carried a backpack that seemed to have been packed rather quickly

"Good, now let's go to the train station, I trust you all know the way so I'll keep up the rear"

The group began moving and soon they arrived at the train station where Mars pulled out some papers which he need to show to the train personal before he boarded the train

'So far, so good...'